Buttonbush Takes Root on Marion Lake.

The Long Island Native Planting Initiaitive (LINPI) produced an exceptional crop of native Buttonbush plants from their nursery and generously donated 48 plants to the Marion Lake Restoration committee.

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is a stunning native wetland shrub with unique globe-shaped white flowers that bloom from June through September. The flowers attract native bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects, and hummingbirds.

Planting native species like Buttonbush alongside regular Phragmites cutting helps native vegetation take hold as the Phragmites is pushed back.

Photo Credit: Jim Evans, CC BY-SA 4.0

Thanks to the continuing efforts of Peter Meleady, and local volunteers Daniel Ferro & Elizabeth O’Reilly, the Buttonbush plants are now in the ground where they’ll support wildlife, increase native plant diversity, and strengthen the recovering ecosystem.